Warner's Vault Locked

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Citizen Kane and Ben-Hur will be locked away soon.

By David McCutcheon

Say goodbye to two of Warner's biggest films ever for a little while.

Home Media Magazine is reporting that two of Warner Home Video's biggest films ever to be released, Citizen Kane and Ben-Hur, will both be placed in the vault. The films will be re-released on Blu-ray and DVD likely in 2011, to coincide with their 70th and 50th anniversaries, respectively. Better gobble up those soon-to-be out-of-print releases while you still can.

The plan is for Warner Home Video to slide the vault door closed on Citizen Kane come May 10, 2010, just a few weeks from today. Ben-Hur will temporary leave retail shelves a few months later on July 12, 2010. The releases are scheduled for re-release in late 2011, at the earliest. Similarly, titles such as Doctor Zhivago, Caddyshack and the Exorcist were the more recent titles to receive similar treatment, with only the Exorcist remaining unannounced in North America.

"As in the past, Warner Home Video is, once again, placing two of our 'event' titles on moratorium 12-18 months in advance of major re-releases," said Jeff Baker, EVP and GM of theatrical catalog. "Both films are undergoing comprehensive restorations in preparation for their return in 2011 in both DVD and for the first time ever in Blu-ray." Baker continued, "We know that it will be worth the wait, as significant content additions are being developed, and Ben-Hur, in particular, has been selected to receive the Ultimate Collectors Edition treatment, reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, Gone With The Wind and Woodstock, which celebrated anniversaries in 2009."

Stay tuned to IGN DVD for more information about these and other upcoming releases!